Rubio went off script from his prepared remarks, outlining to senators that he would focus on “what happens now, moving forward,” noting that he expected senators to ask about what led up to Maduro’s capture.
“We had in our hemisphere a regime operated by an indicted narco-trafficker that became a base of operation for virtually every competitor, adversary and enemy in the world,” Rubio said.
Rubio said “it was an enormous strategic risk for the United States.”
“It was an untenable situation and it had to be addressed, and it was addressed,” Rubio added.
The secretary of state said “we want to reach a phase of transition where we are left with a friendly, stable, prosperous Venezuela — and Democratic — in which all elements of society are represented in free and fair elections.”
“We’re not going to get there in three weeks, it’s going to take some time,” Rubio said.
Rubio said the first objective in the aftermath of Maduro’s removal was stability. And he cited oil sanctions as a key tool. Rubio also said part of the “recovery phase” is “beginning to create space for different voices inside of Venezuelan politics to have an ability to speak out.” He said part of that involves the release of political prisoners.
“I am not here to claim to you this is going to be easy or simple,” Rubio said. “I am saying that in three and a half, almost four weeks, we are much further along on this project than we thought we would be.”
He added, “we’re making good and decent progress.”
